HUPC - TOS NOV 16 (SMRW3/4)

[SirVantes]

Pre-light: Colorado wrapper with the slightest oil sheen, box-pressed, of course.  A straight cut reveals a dimple of Kirk Douglas (RIP) proportions, which I always see as a good sign.  Good draw.

1st third: Shortbread, burnt waffles, nuts, overlaid with a distinct vegetal/tannin note.  I have to say this tastes darker than the box of TOS ENE 17 I have just finished, and loved.  The flavours here are more reticent - you have to look for them under the vegetal note.

2nd third: After the first ashfall, the wrapper went into an EL sulk ("I'm old enough to burn any way I want to, OKAY?").  I stubbornly refuse to correct it, and it sorts itself out after an inch or so.  On the plus side, the vegetal note fades, and the flavours start to sweeten.  The waffles are now slightly sugared. Almonds on the retrohale.  It is now smoking as I remembered it from the ENE 17 box.
 

Last third: No real change in the flavours, but that's no great loss.  I don't expect PCs to evolve all that much (or maybe it's punctuated equilibrium).
 

Final thoughts: Isn't it funny how boxes with the same factory code, a couple of months apart, both PSP/HQ, can give diverging experiences?  The ENE 17 box gave pleasure from the moment it was lit, while this NOV 16 example took coaxing for those same flavours to emerge, almost as if it was still too young.   The reticence early on cost it some points, but this remains one of my go-to PCs.  89/100.